Charles r



- (No Model.)

0. R. KLBT-TNER. ILLUMINATBD AND CHANGEABLE STREET GAR SIGN.

Patented Nov. 17, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETcE,

CHARLES R. KLETTNER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONEJIALF TO DANIEL O. LAXVS AND THOMAS l\ BUCHANAN, OF SAME PLACE.

ILLUMINATED AND CHANGEABLE STREET=CAR SlGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,726, dated November 17, 1896.

Application filed June 1, 1896. $erial No. 593,764. (No model.)

being called to the accompanying drawings,

with the reference-numerals marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invent-ion relates to improvements in signs such as are used on street-cars to indicate terminals of the route, direction of travel, or other matters which it is desirable to be known by the patrons and traveling public.

The object of this invention is to have these signs constructed in a manner that they are also visible at night, and, furthermore,

that they are changeable in a manner that they may indicate, for instance, the. change of direction when a car is on its return trip, the name of the other terminal which it is then approaching, (ii-c.

The invention consists of the features of construction in general as well as in detail whereby these objects are attained.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, is found a full description of the invention, its operation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper part of a car equipped with my illuminated and changeable street-car sign. Fig. 2 is a top view of one of the corners or roofs there of. Fig. 3 is an enlarged front View, partly in section, of one of the signs detached; and Fig. l is across-section of the reflector of the same.

The letters 7 of the signs consist of tin, galvanized iron, or other suitable material, painted, colored, and otherwise prepared in a manner to stand exposure to the weather. They are held in position by wires 8, to which they are secured by solder, riveting, or otherwise. Wires 8 are again secured to longitudinal rods 9, which are connected and held in position by end frames 10. Two of rods 9 are required to form the face of one of the signs, and of the latter there should be as many as are needed to provide for all the changes. Two or three signs may be sufficient to satisfy the requirements in most cases. To meet, however, all possible contingencies, as Well as for convenience in construction and arrangement, I have provided rods for four signs, the whole with the end frames forming a cage-like structure orframe with four faces for signs.

If there is no need for the full possible complement of signs, one or two of the faces are simply left blank. The end frames are provided with hearings or boxes 11 by which these structures are supported in a horizontal position on journals 12, supported by standards 13, which rise from the roof of the car. These sign-frames may be arranged around all four sides of the car, as shown, or only in front or rear, or at the sides, whatever the case may require. For the purpose of turning thcse sign-frames each one of them is at least provided with one sprocket gear wheel 14:, which is operatively connected to one of the bearings 11, and all of which are connected by chains 15 to a similar sprocket 16 on shafts 17. Of these latter there are as many as there are sign-frames, all supported on brackets 18 at the corners and each provided with a bevel gear-wheel 19, which meshes into a similar wheel on the adjoining shaft, so that when one of the latter is turned they all turn at once.

Thus, for instance, if a change of sign-faces is contemplated, it is required to turn only one of the shafts, whereupon all sign-frames turn. For this operation an upright shaft 21 is provided, supported on a bracket and carrying a bevel-wheel 23, which meshes into another bevel-wheel 24c, mounted on one of the shafts 17. Of these it is preferable to use tho-one above the roar platform, because it brings the operating means within reach of the conductor, who usually occupies a position on that 'ilatform, and who can thus op crate and control all signs from one point. However, this is of course optional. The opored.

crating medium consists of a'lever25, affixed to shaft 21 in a manner to permit the same to be rotated. The effectis of course apparout, since by reason of the bevel-gears all shafts are connected.

To keep all parts, particularly the signfaces, from turning-out of their adjusted position, they are locked in a suitable way after adjustment. It may be best done by lever 25, which is provided with a projection 26, adapted to engage with one of a number of notches in a locking-plate 27, fixedly secured. For such purpose lever 25 is pivotally secured to upright shaft 21 in a manner to have an independent movement in or out of the notches of the locking-plate, butwhen moved laterally its movement is not independent and'the upright shaft is rotated by such movement. After the parts have arrived in their proper position lever 25 is dropped andby engaging with one of the notches in the locking-plate the parts are held in position.

To make the signs visible at night, lights 28 back of them, in combination with a refleet-0r 29, are used, which parts must be located inside of the sign-frame to prevent two of the signs from becoming visible at once. In this case the reflector isa trough-shaped structure of a suitable material, best sheet metal with its inner surface polished or otherwise prepared-to have reflecting properties. It is supported on the prolonged journals which support the sign-frames. The lights 'maybe electric (incandescent) andare supported on the ends of the inwardly-extended journals 12, which thus form brackets for them. In case electric lights are used the wires therefor may be conveyed through standards 13 and their journals, which parts In some cases for such purpose are hollow. car-linesare designated and known by colors as to their particular route and destination. For such purpose a colored pane of glass 31 maybe applied in front of thereflector, in which case perhaps the other signs may under 'certainconditions be entirely dispensed with. It is preferable, however, to use the two parts in this combination, and in which-case the larger'part of the glass should be colorless tobringout clearerthe letters of the sign, while the color may be indicated by one or two narrow strips 32 near and parallel with the margin and-above and below the lettersZ-and which strips are then only 001- It may be advisable in all cases, even where colors areof no consequence, to close the open reflector by'a sheet of clear glass to protect the lights and the reflecting-surfaces.

Topermit access to the reflector and its lights, the sign-frames may be opened, for which purpose they are lengthwise divided in two sections, the end frames being also divided and hinged together, as shown at 33,

Fig. 1. After the sign-frames are opened the glass in front of the reflector may he slid out endwise, thus giving access to the interior. IV hen inserted again, the glass may be held in place by snap-catches or other suitable locking devices. The sproeket-wheels 14 are of course temporarily disconnected while the sign-frames are thus opened.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a street-car sign, the combination of a sign-frame constructed of longitudinal rods 9 and end frames 10, forming a number of sign-faces, wires 8 stretched transversely between rods 0, the letters of the sign secured theretoand the whole pivotally supported at the end frames to permit the sign-faces to be changed.

2. In a street-car sign, the combination of a sign-frame constructed of longitudinal rods land end frames 10, forming a number of sign-faces, wires S'stretched transversely be tween rods 0, the letters of :the sign secured thereto, the whole pivotally supported at-the end frames to permit the sign-faces to be changed and lights anda reflector supported within the sign-frame in a manner to have the reflecting-surface back of the sign-face tobeexposed at the time.

3. In a street-car sign, the combination of sign-frameshavingsign-faces formed by iongitudinal rods 9 and end frames 10, letters T suitably secured to the sign-faces, bearings 11 at end frames 10 on which thewhole frame is supported in a manner to be capable of rotation to bring different sign-faces to the front, shafts 17 supported back of the signframes and parallel with them, mechanical connection between the sign-frames and these shafts whereby the latter may rotate the formernnechanical connection between all shafts connection between the sign-frames and these shafts whereby the latter may rotatethe former,mechanical connection between all shafts whereby the rotation of one causes all to rotate, an upright shaft 21 operatively connected with oneof the shafts 17 to rotate such shaft, a lever 25 to operate the upright shaft, means to lock the parts in their adjusted positions and lights and a reflector behind the sign-face which is turned to the front.

5. In a street-car sign,'the combination of a sign-frame having si gn faces formed by longitudinal-rods 9 and end frames 10, letters 7 suitably secured to the sign-faces, bearings 11 at end frames 10, hollow standards 13 bent IOO inwardly to form journals 12 which receive bearings 11 and on which the whole frame is supported in a manner to be capable of rotation to bring diiterent sign-faces to the front, means to rotate the sign-frame, electric lights at the ends of journals 1: receiving the wires through the hollow standards and a reflector behind the sign-face which is turned to the front.

6. In a street-car sign, the combination of sign-frames having signfaces formed by 1011- gitudinal rods 9 and end frames 10, letters 7 suit bly secured to the sign-faces, bearings 11 atend frames 10, hollow standards 13 bent inwardly to form journals 12 which receive bearings 11 and on which the whole frame is supported in a manner to be capable of rotation to bring different sign-faces to the front,

CHARLES R. KLET-TNER.

Witnesses:

THOS. N. BUCHANAN, C. SPENGEL. 

